Kimberly James Boudreaux, Executive Director of Catholic Services of Acadiana, has dedicated her life to being in service to others. As a young adult, Kim sold all her possessions and traveled abroad to work as a missionary, including time spent with Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

While she always believed she would spend her life working on foreign soil, Kim has found her greatest fulfillment working with Catholic Services and raising her young family right here in Lafayette.

In this episode of Discover Lafayette, Kim speaks with Jan Swift about how her first day volunteering at St. Joseph Diner changed her understanding of the challenges homeless people in America face. Kim is a passionate advocate and director of the charitable services offered by Catholic Services of Acadiana which include St. Joseph Diner, St. Joseph Emergency Shelter for Men, a partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes which offers free healthcare through St. Bernadette Clinic, St. Michael Center for Veterans, as well as ongoing disaster recovery relief efforts coordinated with Acadiana VOAD which have come to the forefront after the recent devastating flood of August 2016.

Other services offered include Stella Maris Center, a hygiene facility was created to offer a place for homeless individuals to take a shower, use the restroom, wash their clothes, and manage other basic hygiene needs. In 2012, Catholic Services of Acadiana also began operating a re-housing program to work one-on-one with individuals experiencing homelessness to secure affordable permanent housing. Housing coordinators support the clients after being housed with six months of case management, ensuring they have the resources to maintain their homes such as income, furniture, and food.